Patriarch Douaihyand the Trinitarian Paradigm in the Maronite Mass / Ghassan Nakhoul

The Seventeenth Century Maronite Patriarch Estephan Douaihy developed a Trinitarian Paradigm in his masterpiece Manaratul Aqdas in order to highlight the manifestation of the Trinity in the Mass. Through the Trinitarian Paradigm, the Trinity is allegorised in objects, signs, movements, prayers, readings and hymns throughout the liturgy. Priesthood and the design of the church are also parts of Douaihy's Trinitarian Paradigm.Douaihy liturgises the theology of the Trinity in order to bring the Trinity closer to the average human. With this paradigm, every faithful can relate to the Trinity, not only scholars or theologians. By experiencing the Trinitarian manifestation in the Mass, the faithful can know more about the Triune God and understand God's love in their own lives.Douaihy draws on the work of the Western and Eastern Fathers of the Church to build his Trinitarian theory. While he adopts the various Trinitarian approaches undertaken by the Church Fathers, including faith, reason, awe, economy and Scripture, Douaihy makes liturgy his main approach. In the Mass, the bond of love between God and the human is perfected through the Eucharistic communion. The Eucharist is the ultimate experience of the Trinity.